Systems and/or methods for providing enhanced control over and visibility into workflows where potentially sensitive data is processed by different operators, regardless of current workflow task owner

• US 9,672,487 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finlocker LLC
• Original Assignee: Finlocker LLC
• Inventors: Garcia, Bryan D., Esparrago, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DELICH, STEPHANIE ZAGARELLA
• Application Number:
  US14/996,422
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to systems and/or methods for providing enhanced control over potentially sensitive data sharable among and/or between different parties. For example, certain example embodiments provide views into computer-enabled workflows managed by external parties, including views into what sensitive data has been accessed, who has accessed it, etc., e.g., throughout the lifecycle of a product granted on the basis of an analysis of such data. A computer-enabled system for automatically assessing received sensitive data in accordance with one or more digitized rule sets also is provided in certain example embodiments, as are computer-mediated tools for helping to automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually resolve issues detected in the assessments, e.g., via enhanced communication and collaboration, among and/or between parties to a transaction, as well as third-parties who indirectly are involved in the transaction. The data remains secure and traceable, e.g., in accordance with its provider'"'"'s specifications.

Claims

1. A workflow management system, comprising:

processing resources including at least one processor and a memory coupled thereto; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

wherein the processing resources are configured to control the workflow management system to at least;

support a user interface for a user of the workflow management system,

interface with an external computing platform remote from and inaccessible to the user to enable the computing platform to participate in a multi-step computer-mediated workflow managed by and under control of another entity, the multi-step workflow including operations for processing user data including user provided data and/or documents shared from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and data and/or documents authorized by a user to be provided, wherein the user interface is configured to present to the user information concerning a status of the workflow,

transmit, responsive to a termination message received from the user, a signal from the workflow management system to the computing platform of the another entity to cause the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow, the signal causing the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity, and

responsive to a predefined time period elapsing, cause the computing platform to terminate the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user data is organized into one or more logical containers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the user interface is further configured to enable the user to select which user data element(s) is/are to be associated with each said logical container.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein at least some of the user data is provided prior to initiation of the multi-step workflow.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least some of the user data is user-entered and/or automatically retrieved from one or more external sources.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least some of the user data is user-entered and at least some of the data corresponds to documents uploaded to the workflow management system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing resources are further configured to control the workflow management system to at least receive an electronic request for further information from the workflow and, responsive thereto, prompt the user, via the user interface, for additional user data, including additional data and/or documents, in satisfaction of the electronic request.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic request for further information from the workflow originates with another entity.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic request for further information from the workflow originates with a party external to the workflow management system processing user data upon request by another entity.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the electronic request is issued responsive to a rule associated with the workflow.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the status indicates the step in the workflow currently being processed.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the status indicates what user data is being analyzed in the step currently being processed and/or a name of a person or organization responsible for completing the step currently being processed.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the status indicates what steps in the workflow have been completed, if any.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the status indicates what user data has been accessed in the completion of all completed steps.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the indication of the user data that has been accessed is provided on a step-by-step basis.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the status represents the step in the workflow currently being processed and/or what steps in the workflow have been completed, if any, at a level of granularity specified by the another entity.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the further entity is an agent of the another entity.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the further entity operates an additional computing platform configured to electronically analyze at least some information received from the user, indirectly and via the another entity, on behalf of the another entity.

19. The workflow management system of claim 1, wherein the signal triggers revocation of access to at least some of the user data in order to cause termination of the workflow, during midstream processing of the workflow.

20. The workflow management system of claim 1, wherein the predefined time period elapsing causes the workflow to terminate, during midstream processing of the workflow.

21. A workflow management system, comprising:

processing resources including at least one processor and a memory coupled thereto; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

wherein the processing resources are configured to control the workflow management system to at least;

support a user interface for a user of the workflow management system,

interface with an external computing platform remote from and inaccessible to the user to enable the computing platform to participate in a multi-step computer-mediated workflow managed by and under control of another entity, the multi-step workflow including operations for processing user data including user provided data and/or documents shared from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and data and/or documents authorized by a user to be provided, wherein the user interface is configured to present to the user information concerning a status of the workflow,

transmit, responsive to a termination message received from the user, a signal from the workflow management system to the computing platform of the another entity to cause the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow, the signal causing the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity,

responsive to a predefined time period elapsing, cause the computing platform to terminate the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity, and

receive an electronic request for further information from the workflow and, responsive thereto;

automatically retrieve further user data, including further data and/or documents, from one or more data sources external to but accessible by the workflow management system through one or more corresponding computer-implemented interfaces, conditioned on the user having provided corresponding credentialing information for the one or more data sources; and

electronically transmit the automatically retrieved further user data to the another entity, in satisfaction of the electronic request.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the automatic retrieval and/or electronic transmission is conditioned on the electronic request being received within a period of time allotted by the system and/or the user.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the user data is organized into one or more logical containers, each said logical container being shareable with the another based on one or more user-defined approval policies defined when the respective logical container is created.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the automatic retrieval and/or electronic transmission is conditioned on the one or more user-defined approval policies associated with the container(s) being shared with the another entity.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein data relevant to satisfaction of the electronic request is not directly accessible by the another entity from the one or more data sources.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the processing resources are further configured to control the workflow management system to at least request approval from the user prior to electronic transmission of the automatically retrieved further user data to the another entity.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the request for approval is issued following the automatic retrieval, and after the user is presented with an opportunity to review the automatically retrieved further user data.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the user data is organized into one or more logical containers.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the further user data is linkable to the logical container(s).

30. A workflow management method for use with a workflow management system comprising processing resources including at least one processor and a memory coupled thereto, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the method comprising:

supporting a user interface for a user of the workflow management system;

interfacing with an external computing platform remote from and inaccessible to the user to enable the computing platform to participate in a multi-step computer-mediated workflow managed by and under control of another entity, the multi-step workflow including operations for processing user data including user provided data and/or documents shared from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and data and/or documents authorized by a user to be provided;

presenting, to the user via the user interface, user information concerning a status of the workflow;

transmitting, responsive to a termination message received from the user, a signal from the workflow management system to the computing platform of the another entity to cause the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow, the signal causing the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity.

31. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor of a workflow management system, perform functionality comprising:

supporting a user interface for a user of the workflow management system;

interfacing with an external computing platform remote from and inaccessible to the user to enable the computing platform to participate in a multi-step computer-mediated workflow managed by and under control of another entity, the multi-step workflow including operations for processing user data including user provided data and/or documents shared from the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and data and/or documents authorized by a user to be provided;

presenting, to the user via the user interface, user information concerning a status of the workflow;

transmitting, responsive to a termination message received from the user, a signal from the workflow management system to the computing platform of the another entity to cause the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow, the signal causing the computing platform to terminate running of the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity; and

responsive to a predefined time period elapsing, causing the computing platform to terminate the workflow regardless of what step in the workflow is being processed, including regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the user, regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with the another entity, and regardless of whether responsibility for processing the current step in the workflow resides with a further entity that has partnered with the another entity by request of the another entity.